Organo-silicone block copolymers



United States Patent 3,480,583 ORGANO-SILICONE BLOCK COPOLYMERS Donald L. Bailey, Snyder, and Francis M. OConnor, Kenmore, N.Y., assignors to Union Carbide Corporation, a corporation of New York N 0 Drawing. Continuation-impart of applications Ser. No. 660,997, and Ser. No. 661,009, both filed May 23, 1957. This application Dec. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 162,980.

Int. Cl. C08g 31/18 U.S. Cl. 260-465 10 Claims ABSTRACT (IF THE DISCLOSURE A mixture of block copolymers wherein each copolymer contains at least one siloxane polymer and at least one oxyalkylene polymer in combination, each such siloxane polymer being (1) composed only of trifunctional silicon atoms, each of which silicon atoms is bonded to one hydrocarbon group and bonded to three oxygen atoms that link the silicon atoms to from 1 to 3 other silicon atoms by silicon to oxygen to silicon bonds, and at least one of which silicon atoms is bonded to from 1 to 2 oxyalkylene polymers by a silicon to oxygen to carbon bond in each instance and (2) end-blocked by a member selected from the group consisting of the trihydrocarbonsiloxy groups, alkoxy groups and another of said oxyalkylene polymers; and each such oxyalkylene polymer being composed of at least five oxyalkylene units joined to each other by oxycarbon bonds and being joined at one end to said siloxane polymer and at the other end to a member selected from the group consisting of another of said siloxane polymers by a carbon-oxysilicon bond, the hydroxyl group, the trihydrocarbonsiloxy groups and alkoxy groups, said mixture of block copolymers being free of any silicon atom linked to two oxygen atoms and two carbon atoms hydrocarbon groups. Said mixtures of block copolymers are useful as metal to metal lubricants for moving surfaces.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 660,997, filed May 23, 1957 and application Ser. No. 661,009, filed May 23, 1957, both abandoned. Said Ser. No. 660,997 was a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 417,935, filed Mar. 22, 1954 (now U.S. Patent 2,834,748) and said Ser. No. 661,009 was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 435,938, filed June 10, 1954 (now U.S. Patent 2,917,480).

This invention relates to organo-silicone compounds and to processes for making them. More particularly, it is concerned with organo-silicone compounds to which the name block copolymer is applied. In these block copolymers there are one or more blocks or sections to the molecule thereof which are silicone polymers (e.g. polydimethylsiloxy moieties) and one or more blocks or sections to the molecule thereof which are oxyalkylene polymers (e.g. polyoxyethylene moieties). The block copolymers of this invention are of two varieties, i.e. linear block copolymers and crosslinked block copolymers. As used herein, the phrase linear block copolymer denotes a silicone-polyoxyalkylene block copolymer wherein the silicon atoms in the recurring siloxane units in the silicone blocks are difunctional (e.g., as in Me SiO units) and crosslinked block copolymer denotes a siliconepolyoxyalkylene block copolymer wherein at least some of the silicon atoms in the recurring siloxane units in the silicone blocks are trifunctional (e.g., as in C H SiO units). The crosslinked block copolymers include oils, water-soluble solids and infusible solids.

The linear block copolymers of this invention are particularly characterized as being linear polymers that are Patented Nov. 25, 1969 free of trifunctional silicon atoms (i.e. silicon atoms linked to three oxygen atoms and one carbon atom of a hydrocarbon group). In these linear block copolymers each siloxane block is linked at one end to an oxyalkylene block and at the other end to (1) another oxyalkylene block, (2) a trihydrocarbonsiloxy group, or (3) an alkoxy group while each oxyalkylene block is linked at one end to a siloxane block and at the other end to (1) another siloxane block, (2) a hydroxyl group or (3) a trihydrocarbonsiloxy group.

The crosslinked block copolymers of this invention are particularly characterized as being crosslinked polymers that contain at least one trifunctional silicon atom. The crosslinked block copolymers can have siloxane blocks that contain only trifunctional silicon atoms or they can have siloxane blocks that contain both trifunctional silicon atoms and difunctional silicon atoms (i.e. silicon atoms linked to the two oxygen atoms and two carbon atoms of hydrocarbon groups). The crosslinked copolymers having siloxane blocks that contain only trifunctional silicon atoms also have oxyalkylene blocks and each of such oxyalkylene blocks is linked at one end to a siloxane block and at the other end to 1) another siloxane block, (2) a monovalent hydrocarbonoxy group, (3) a trihydrocarbonsiloxy group, or (4) a hydroxyl group. Crosslinked copolymers having siloxane blocks that contain both trifunctional and difunctional silicon atoms also have oxyalkylene blocks and each of such oxyalkylene blocks is linked at one end to a siloxane block and at the other end to (1) another siloxane block, (2) a hydroxyl group or (3) a trihydrocarbonsiloxy group.

The crosslinked block copolymers of this invention have siloxane blocks wherein each terminal silicon atom is linked to (l) trihydrocarbonsiloxy groups, (2) alkoxy groups and/or (3) oxyalkylene blocks. ISuch terminal silicon atoms are, of course, also linked to one carbonatom of a hydrocarbon group (in the case of terminal trifunctional silicon atoms) or to two carbons of hydrocarbon groups (in the case of terminal difunctional siliin which R is hydrogen or a trihydrocarbonsilyl group when attached to an oxyalkylene polymer and a trihydrocarbonsilyl group or an alkyl group when attached to a siloxane polymer; R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group and which can be the same or different for all Rs in the molecule; x is an integer of 2 or more; y is an integer of 5 or more; It is an integer from 2 to 4; and a and b are integers each of which is equal to at least one. By the term monovalent hydrocarbon group as used herein, is meant a monovalent group composed of carbon and hydrogen, such as, for example, a group of the aliphatic series including methyl, ethyl, vinyl, allyl, propyl, isopropyl, the butyls, the pentyls and the like; or of the aromatic series of which phenyl, methylphenyl, benzyl and other aralkyl groups are representative or of the cycloaliphatic series of which cyclopentyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl and the like are representative.

The silicone block in the linear copolymers of this invention is a siloxane linear polymer or chain of recurring siloxane units, (R SiO-), and is illustrated by the formula, (R SiO) wherein R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group as previously defined and x is an integer equal to at least two. A silicon block of two units in which all of the monovalent hydrocarbon groups are methyl, (Me SiOMe SiO)-, would have a molecular weight of 148 which is the minimum molecular weight attributable to a silicone block in the compounds of this invention. Silicone blocks having individual molecular weights of as high as 50,000 or higher can be embodied in these novel organo-silicone compounds. Compounds having silicon blocks of molecular weights ranging from 500 to 75,000 to the block are preferred. The monovalent hydrocarbon radicals need not be identical throughout the silicone block but may differ from siloxane unit to siloxane unit or may be different within a single siloxane unit.

The organic blocks of these linear block copolymers are linear, predominantly oxyalkylene polymers comprised of recurring oxyalkylene units (C H O) joined to each other by carbon-oxygen bonds. They can be individually represented by the general formula:

r. 11 2I1 ]y in which, n is an integer from 2 to 4; and y is an integer of 5 or more. Thus, a polyoxyalkylene block of 5 oxyalkylene units in which n equals 2 throughout each unit has a molecular weight of 220, which is the minimum molecular weight attributable to the organic block of the copolymeric molecule. Organic blocks having molecular weights of up to about 10,000 or higher can be used with molecular weights ranging from 500 to 600 to the block being preferred. The oxyalkylene units, comprising an organic block, are not necessarily identical throughout the block but can be different within each block. An organic block, for example, can be comprised of combinations of oxyethylene units, --C H O; oXy-1,2- propylene units C H O; oXyl-l,3-propylene units, -C H O-; oxyethylene and oxypropylene units,

or the oxybutylenes, -C H O- or mixtures thereof. The oxyalkylene block or blocks of our copolymers are bonded at least at one end to a siloxane block or polymer through carbon-oxy-silicon bonds,

The linear block copolymers of this invention are terminated by monovalent groups from the group of trihydrocarbonsiloxy, hydroxy and alkoxy groups. These terminal groups are hydroxy or trihydrocarbonsiloxy groups when attached to oxyalkylene blocks and alkoxy or trihydrocarbonsiloxy groups when attached to siloxane blocks.

Thus, the general formula of the linear block copolymers of this invention can be more particularly set forth as follows:

in which R and R are monovalent groups as previously defined; n, x, and y are integers with identical meanings as set forth for formula A; c and e are integers having a value of zero or one; and d is an integer of a value of one or of a greater value. The symbol R as used in this formula represents a monovalent chain-terminating group which is hydrogen or trihydrocarbonsilyl when terminating an oxyalkylene block end of the copolymeric chain. When terminating a silicone block end of the copolymeric chain, R is an alkyl group or a trihydrocarbonsilyl group.

This formula is generic to several different types of linear block copolymers all within the scope of the invention. It is to be understood that the compositions of this invention are complex mixtures of constituents generally depicted in Formula B, rather than made of identical organo-silicone block copolymers.

In the first type of linear block copolymers, with reference to Formula B, the integers c and e are both equal to 0 and the integer d is a value of one or more, the general formula of this type being:

wherein R" designates an alkyl group or a trihydrocarbonsilyl group; R represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group; and x, y, n and d represent integers as defined in Formula B. The simplest compound of this type, or course, is one in which d is equal to one, x is equal to 2, y has a value of 5, n has a value of 2, R is a methyl group, R of the silicon block end of the copolymeric chain represents a methyl group and R of the oxyalkylene block end of the copolymeric chain represents hydrogen. This compound would have a molecular weight of 400 which is the minimum molecular weight for constituents of the compositions of this invention.

Referring to Formula B, a second type of linear block copolymer is one in which 0 equals one, e equals zero and d has a value of one or more, the general formula of this type being:

wherein, R designates a monovalent hydrocarbon group; and x, y, n and d are integers having the same definitions as for those of like designations in Formula B. The simplest compound of this second type is one having the formula of (II), above, in which d is equal to 1, y has a value of S, n is equal to 2, x has a value of 2, and R is a methyl group. This compound would have a molecular weight of about 606.

A third type of linear block copolymer is characterized by siloxane blocks at each end of the copolymeric chain and can be represented by Formula B when 0 is equal to zero, 2 has a value of one and d represents an integer of at least one. This type of block copolymer is more particularly illustrated by the general formula:

wherein, R designates a monovalent hydrocarbon group; R is an alkyl group or a trihydrocarbonsilyl group and x, y, n and d are integers having the same value as provided for in Formula B. The simplest compound of this third type, is one which has the formula of (III), above, wherein x has a value of 2, y is equal to 5, n has a value of 2, d equals one, and R and R" are methyl groups. This compound has a molecular weight of about 562.

According to one method of making our linear block copolymers, the linear copolymers of this invention can be produced by reacting a linear dialkoxy-endblocked polydihydrocarbon siloxane with a linear polyoxyalkylene diol or dihydroxypolyoxyalkylene with the hydroxyl groups of the diol condensing with the alkoxy groups of the polysiloxane in such a manner that polysiloxane blocks are linked to polyoxyalkylene blocks through carbon-oxy-silicon bonds,

An alkanol is a co-product of the reaction. The molar ratio of diol to polysiloxane in the reaction mixture can be regulated, as desired, to control which of the three types of organo-silicone copolymers will be predominantly produced.

By using equimolar quantities of a linear dialkoxy endblocked polydihydrocarbonsiloxane and a linear polyoxyalkylene diol in the reaction mixture, it is possible to produce the first type copolymer as represented by Formula I and the reaction is illustrated by the followmg equation:

in which, R" represents an alkyl group; R designates a hydrocarbyl group, x, y and n represent integers as previously defined with regard to Formula B; and z is a positive integer.

By using in the reaction mixture, the linear dialkoxyendblocked polydihydrocarbonsiloxane and the linear polyoxyalkylene diol in a ratio of more than one mole of the diol per mole of the silicone, the resulting product is a copolymer of the second type, as represented by Formula II. The reaction that takes place can be represented by the following equation:

wherein, R designates an alkyl group; R represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group; x, y and n designate integers defined in the foregoing presentation of Formula B; and z is a positive integer and z is a positive integer greater than 7..

In producing a linear block copolymer of the third type, represented by Formula III, a polyoxyalkylene diol can be reacted with a dialkoXy-endblocked polydihydrocarbonsiloxane in a ratio of less than one mole of diol per mole of the silicone. The reaction that takes place can be represented by the equation:

in which, R is an alkyl group; R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group; x, y and n are integers with identical descriptions given with regard to Formula A; and z is a positive integer and z" is a positive integer greater than 2.

Our linear block copolymers having siloxane blocks terminated at one end by trihydrocarbonsiloxy groups can be produced by employing trihydrocarbonsiloxyand alkoxy-endblocked polydihydrocarbonsiloxanes in lieu of all or a portion of the dialkoxy-endblocked dihydrocarbonsiloxanes depicted in Equations Ia, Ila and IIIa. One such reaction is illustrated by the equation:

According to another embodiment of our process for producing the linear block copolymers, a polyoxyalkylene diol can first be condensed with a dialkoxy-dihydrocarbonsilane and the resulting product then equilibrated with a cyclic dihydrocarbonsiloxane, e.g., dihydrocarbonsiloxane cyclic trimers or tetramers. The first reaction, i.e., the one that take place by condensation can be represented by the equation:

wherein, R" is an alkyl group; R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group; and n, y and z are positive integers. The product of this reaction which is a copolymer with a siloxane block of only one silicon atom is then equilibrated wtih a dihydrocarbon siloxane cyclic trimer or tetramer. The equilibration can be as represented by the equation which follows:

wherein R" is an alkyl group; R is a monovalent hydrocarbon groups; x is an integer from 3 to 4; and n, y and z are positive integers. The equilibration (Equation V) can be carried out in accordance with the equilibration procedure as, for example, described in the copending application of D. L. Bailey, Ser. No. 398,225, filed Dec. 14, 1953, now Patent No. 2,909,549 in which, dihydrocarbylsiloxune cyclic trimers, tetramers and higher polymers are equilibrated with polydihydrocarbonsiloxanes under substantially anhydrous conditions and in the presence of alkaline catalysts to produce linear polysiloxanes of greater chain length. It is to be further understood that the molar ratios of oxyalkylene glycol to polysiloxane in the initial reaction mixture of the first stage reaction (Equation IV) can be varied as in the reactions of Equations 11a and H111 to produce the other types of our compositions.

According to another embodiment of our process our linear block copolymers can be produced by the reaction of a polydihydrocarbonsiloxane containing terminal silanic hydrogen groups, i.e., hydrogen atoms bonded directly to silicon atoms with a polyoxyalkylene hydroxy compound in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, e.g., piperidine. The silanic hydrogen atoms are displaced by oxyalkylene chains which are thus bonded to the siloxane polymer through carbon oxygen-silicon bonds, thereby forming the organo-silicone copolymers of this invention, accompanied by the evolution of gaseous hydrogen as a co-product of the reaction.

The linear alkox end-blocked polysiloxane which is a reactant or starting material in the preferred process for making our linear block copolymers can itself be made by reacting a lower molecular weight polysiloxane with a dialkoxy silane. More specifically, a trimeric cyclic siloxane, (R SiO) or a tetrameric cyclic siloxane, (R SiO) for instance, can be equilibrated with a dihydrocarbyl dialkoxy silane in the presence of an alkaline catalyst to produce the linear polysiloxane having alkoxy end groups. The molecular weight of the resultant linear polysiloxane is dependent upon the charging ratios employed. The higher the proportion of cyclic trimer or tetramer to the polysiloxane. In the higher molecular weight ranges, the linear polysiloxane is obtained as a complex mixture of constituents, to which can be assigned a number average molecular weight which represents an average of the individual molecular weights of the polysiloxane constituents of the composition and of the proportion in which each is present in the composition. On the other hand, Where the proportions of dialkoxy silane to the cyclictrimer or tetramer is high, depolymerization of the latter can result to produce a linear alkoxy, end-blocked polysiloxane starting material of as low as two siloxane units to the molecule, corresponding to the minimum size silicone block. As improved process for making linear alkoxy end-blocked polysiloxanes which are especially suitable for use as starting materials in making our block copolymers is described and claimed in copending application Ser. No. 398,225, filed Dec. 14, 1953, now Patent No. 2,909,549. Another method for the preparation of alkoxy-endblocked siloxanes is by controlled hydrolysis of dialkoxysilanes as described in US. Uatent No. 2,415,389. For the preparation of alkoxy-endblocked siloxanes of high molecular weight the former method, i.e., the one disclosed in the copending application, is preferred.

The polyoxyalkylene diol which is also a starting material or reactant in the production of our linear block copolymers includes the polyoxyethylene diols, the polyoxypropylene diols, the polyoxybutylene diols, mixed oxyethyleneoxypropylene diols and the like. These polyoxyalkylene diols, many, if not all, of which are available commercially in a wide range and variety of molecular weights, can themselves be made by reacting the corresponding alkylene oxide, or oxides with a diol starter. In this connection it is to be noted that when glycerol is used as a starter, according to our experience, addition of the alkylene oxide takes place at the two primary alcohol groups of the glycerol and the polyoxyalkylene addition product exhibits many of the properties characteristic of a diol of corresponding molecular weight. Alkylene oxide-glycerol addition products can also be used in making our block copolymers. When more than one alkylene oxide is employed, they can be added to the diol starter sequentially, or they can be first admixed and the admixture added to the diol starter, or they can be added to the diol starter in any other manner. United States Patent No. 1,921,378 describes a method of making addition products of ethylene oxide or of propylene oxide, and mixed oxyethylene-oxypropylene diols are described 7 in Patent No. 2,425,845. Polyoxybutylene diols can be made by the reaction of a butylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst for the condensation, for instance, borontrifluorideetherate. Mixtures of different polyoxyalkylene diols can also be used as starting materials in producing our block copolymers.

It is also well known that polyoxyalkylene diols can be made by reacting alkylene oxides with other compounds having labile hydrogen atoms. Examples of such compounds are alkyl and aryl dithiols, such as, ethylene dithiol, and alkyl and aryl diamines, such as, hexamethylene diamine and m-phenylene diamine. Such polyoxyalkylene diols made from these diverse starting materials also form block copolymers of the same general type with polysiloxane polymers since the starting fragment of such polyoxyalkylene diol forms an insignificant fraction of the block copolymer.

The condensation reactions depicted in Equations Ia, 11a and 11112 for forming the linear block copolymers according to our preferred process are reversible reactions and require means for forcing these reactions to completion. Many such means are known in the art. One effective means for forcing the reactions towards completion is the removal of alcoholic co-products, designated as R'OH from the reaction mixture. It is also apparent that the ultimate quantity of the alcoholic product, R'OH removed from each reaction mixture provides an indication of the extent to which that particular condensation reaction between the dialkoxy-endblocked polydihydrocarbylsiloxane and the polyoxyalkylene diol reactants has reached completion. Additionally, the rate at which the alcoholic product is removed from the reaction mixture serves to indicate the rate at which the reaction is progressing. That is, if a large quantity of alcoholic product is removed within a short period of reaction time, it may be concluded that the reaction is proceeding at a rapid rate, Whereas the reaction is proceeding at a slow rate if the amount of alcoholic product removed in a given time is small.

Complete compatibility of the reactants is preferred, although not essential for the reaction to proceed at a reasonable rate. Most alkoxy-endblocked polysiloxanes are incompatible with polyoxyalkylene diols or their monoethers. In such cases the two substances can be brought into reactive contact by diSSOlVing them in a common solvent, although other measures can be employed instead. Suitable solvents are, for example, toluene or xylene, in which both reacting substances are mutually soluble. In some instances, where large molecular weight polyoxyalkylene diols are employed as reactants, complete compatibility of the reactants may not be attainable. The reaction in such instances progresses, but at a slower rate. The boiling point of a mutual solvent can be used to effectively control the reaction temperature. In controlling reaction temperature, a reflux condenser can be useful in maintaining the reaction mixture substantially at the boiling point of the mutual solvent under atmospheric or other pressures.

The condensation reaction is carried out preferably at temperatures in the range from 80 C. to 200 C. Undesirable side reactions forming water as a co-product are encouraged at temperatures above this range. Contamination by materials formed by these side reactions can be tolerated in most uses of our organo-silicone block copolymers. However, it may be desirable to remove these materials when formed and it is preferable to prevent their formation by choice of reaction temperature. At temperatures below this range the condensation reaction proceeds at a slow rate or not at all.

The catalyst employed in the above-mentioned condensation reactions are, in general, the carboxylic acids, including trifiuoroacetic acid, perfluorobutyric acid, prefluoroglutaric acid, monochloroacetic acid, acetic acid, etc., or alkaline substances, such as potassium silanolate,

wherein b is a positive integer and R is an alkyl radical such as ethyl or methyl. The carboxylic acid catalyst are active with most starting materials, and are effective in low concentrations, e.g., as low as 0.1 percent by weight of the starting materials. They produce colorless to lightcolored block copolymers and do not cause any degradation of the polysiloxane molecules to result in copolymerl'c products which are low in silicon content, as is the tendency of strong acid catalysts and alkaline catalysts. Of the carboxylic acid catalysts, the polyhalogen substituted aliphatic carboxylic acid particularly, trifluoroacetic acid, perfluorobutyric acid, and perfiuoroglutaric acid provide exceptionally high catalytic activities and, are preferred.

Alkaline catalysts, in particular potassium silanolate containing about 3.0 percent by Weight of potassium exhibit very high catalytic activity. The use of alkaline catalysts tends also to favor degradation of the polysiloxane chain during the condensation reaction with the formation of a corresponding cyclic polysiloxane and organosilicone products which are low in silicon content. The degradation reaction is of the reversible type and may be opposed by adding to the initial reaction mixture the cyclic polysiloxane which is formed by the degradation reaction. For example, in producing polydimethylsiloxanepolyoxyalkylene diol block copolymers with potassium silanolate as a catalyst, we have observed that the addition of appreciable amounts of the cyclic tetramer of dimethylsiloxane results in products which have the theoretical silicon contents for the particular block copolymers desired to be formed without any accompanying degradation of starting material.

Neutral and mildly basic aqueous solutions of the watersoluble types of linear polysiloxane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymers of this invention are stable against hydrolysis and remain clear and homogeneous for extremely long periods of time. Strong acids and bases added to, or initially present in and unremoved from, these solutions tend to attach the hydrolyzable carbon-oxy-silicon bonds present in the molecules of said compounds to bring about the hydrolysis of the polysiloxane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymers within a short time. Upon the addition of trifluoroacetic acid, for example, to an aqueous solution of watersoluble polysiloxanepolyoxyalkylene block copolymers these solutions have been observed to become turbid within several minutes and to separate into a polyoxyalkylene glycol aqueous layer and a silicon oil or polysiloxane layer. The removal or neutralization of the acid catalyst employed in the condensation reaction, therefore, is desirable to provide a hydrolytically stable polysiloxanepolyoxyalkylene block copolymer. Neutralization of the acid catalyst with stoichiometric amounts of a weak organic base, e.g., triethanolamime, monoethanolamine, monoisopropanolamine, dibutylamine, etc., or sodium bicarbonate, anhydrous ammonia, etc., is to be preferred over the removal of the catalyst, as by washing with water, and subsequent treatment with an adsorptive material such as silica gel or Magnesol an adsorptive magnesium silicate.

Some of our linear block copolymers are water-soluble, and block copolymers having that fraction of their molecular weight which is attributable to the oxyethylene groups approximately equal to or greater than those fractions which are attributable to either the polysiloxane units or to oxypropylene or oxybutylene units are water-soluble. The Water-soluble block copolymers are useful as rubber lubricants, particularly for tire molds, where their watersolubility permits them to be readily applied from an aqueous solution or emulsion. The lubricant can then be readily removed from the molded articles by washing with water. Such property of ready removal by water-washing also enhances their utility as textile lubricants.

The water-soluble linear block copolymers are also mixable with water-soluble polyoxyalkylene diols, monoethers, and diethers and are useful as lubricants and hydraulic fluids in combination with such diols, monoethers and diethers, or with ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. The water-soluble block copolymers form useful ingredients of lubricants having a Water base, commonly termed hydrolubes. The alkoxypolysiloxanes are themselves water-insoluble, and immiscible with the above-mentioned materials, and our block copolymers have greatly enhanced utility over them.

Linear block copolymers wherein oxyalkylene units of the polyoxyalkylene block contains three or more carbons to the unit with but few or no oxyethylene units present are not water-soluble. They are miscible, however, with the starting polyoxyalkylene diols, or the corresponding monoether or diethers, and are useful as lubricating compositions in combination therewith.

Our linear block copolymers having at least limited water-miscibility and, especially, those copolymers prepared from polyoxyethylene diols as the polyoxyalkylene diol reactant, exhibit excellent emulsifying properties in such systems as benzene-water, silane-water, silicone oilwater mixtures and the like. In block copolymers where the polysiloxane blocks and polyoxyalkylene blocks are of the same or similar lengths, the emulsifying properties of the copolymers are enhanced. Emulsions prepared from our water-soluble block copolymers can be readily broken by the addition of acidic materials. This latter characteristic of emulsions obtained through the use of the water-soluble block copolymers, additionally, lend these copolymers to uses as fugitive emulsifying agents.

Another property of water-soluble linear block copolymers is the high surface activity of their aqueous solutions. In one instance of a 0.05 percent by Weight aqueous solution of a block copolymer, prepared from a polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 550 and an alkoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 1036, the surface tension measured 28.5 dynes/ centimeters at 24 C., Whil the surface tension of an aqueous solution of a commercially available detergent under the same conditions measured 33.2 dynes/ centimeter.

Our linear block copolymers diifer from other organesilicone copolymers in that the molecular weights of the polydihydrocarbylsiloxane block and of the polyoxyalkylene block can be predetermined and controlled to thereby provide a Wide range of compositions. The average molecular weight and molecular content of the copolymeric product is controlled 1) by the selection of starting materials having the desired molecular weights and (2) by adjusting the molar ratio in which these starting materials are present in the initial reaction mixture.

Polyoxyalkylene diols and dialkoxy polyhydrocarbonsiloxanes vary widely in molecular weights and thus a broad field for the selection of varied molecular weight starting materials is available. Hence, the linear block copolymers may comprise one or more short, medium or long polysiloxane blocks in combination with one or more short, medium or 10 ng oxyalkylene blocks.

In addition, the molar ratio of polyoxyalkylene diol to polysiloxane may be varied over wide ranges to produce linear copolymeric products having diverse average molecular weights and different properties. When this molar ratio is greater or less than 1, one or the other of the starting material tends to endblock the copolymeric chain being formed during its early stages of growth, and thereby restrict the length of said chain. For example, when the molar ratio of diol to polysiloxane is greater than 1 there is the tendency for the copolymeric chain to become endblocked by the diol, thereby being limited in length. In thus endblocking the copolymeric chain by the diols, the average molecular weight of the resulting copolymeric product may be maintained at a lower level than that of a copolymeric product produced from a reaction mixture in which the molar ratio of glycol to polysiloxane is more nearly equal or equal to l, in the latter case the tendency towards end-blocking by either one of the starting materials being remote. The copolymerie product obtained by using a molar ratio of diol to siloxane of about 1 is believed to be more nearly of the type shown in Formula I while the block copolymer produced by using the diol to siloxane molar ratio of greater than 1 can be regarded as more nearly of the type shown in Formula II. Similarly, when the molar ratio of diol to polysiloxane is less than 1, the polysiloxane tends to endblock the copolymeric chain to restrict the growth of said chain and, thereby, limit the ultimate molecular weight of the copolymer. In this latter case a block copolymer predominantly of the type shown in Formula III is believed to be produced.

A few of the many possible combinations are shown in the table below:

TABLE I.AVERAGE MOLECULAR WEIGHTS OF LINEAR BLOCK COPOLYMERS Average Moleeu- Molar Ratio Average molecular wgt. of lar Wgt. of of Oxyalkylene oxyalkylene block Polvsiloxane to Polysiloxane Block Blocks 500 1, 000 5, 000

The linear block copolymers of this invention thus form useful compositions over a wide range of polysiloxane content from about 5 percent to about percent by weight as shown by the above table.

As illustrations of the various types of linear block copolymers which are obtainable in accordance with the teachings of this invention, specific examples of block copolymers prepared from polysiloxanes and particular polyoxyalkylene diols are presented. In these examples the average molecular weights of the polyoxyalkylene diols represented are those determined from :acetyl values, except Where indicated otherwise, and those of the dialkoxypolydihydrocarbonsiloxanes were determined from charging ratios used in the preparation of said siloxanes or from cryoscopic values of said siloxanes in cyclohexane.

In the examples, reduced specific viscosities were determined by measuring viscosities of solutions containing one gram of block copolymer sample in milliliters of toluene and employing the formula below.

o (rd- 0 N is the solution viscosity in centipoise at 20 C., N is the solvent viscosity in centipoise at 20 C. and C is the concentration of sample in grams per 100 milliliters of solution.

Reduced specific viscosity= Linear block copolymers from polyoxyethylene glycols and dialkoxy polydihydrocarbonsiloxanes more polyoxyethylene glycol chains connected to one or more polysiloxanes chains.

Our linear block copolymers range from viscous liquids to high melting solids and from water-soluble to waterinsoluble. For example, a block copolymer, produced from diethoxy polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular Weight of 1036 and polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular Weight of 550, is water-soluble. A block copolymer obtained from the condensation of diethoxy polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 16,000 and polyoxyethylene glycol having TABLE II Average Molecular Weight ot Percent by Water Weight of Solubility Polydl- Polyoxy- Oxyethylene of Organomethylethylene Groups in Silicone siloxane Glycol Copolymer Copolymer 518 550 51.5 S 1,036 550 34.6 S 16,000 6,000 27.3 I

In general, polyoxyethylene-polydihydrocarbonsiloxane copolymers containing more than about 28 to 34 percent by weight of oxyethylene groups are water-soluble while those with a lower weight percent are water-insoluble.

Our water-soluble linear block copolymers are particularly useful in those systems listed previously. They are also useful in many other systems containing two or more immiscible components. We have found that those systems containing one, or more than one, component which is miscible with polyoxyethylene glycol and one other, or more than one other, component which is miscible with linear polysiloxanes are particularly suited for emulsification by our polyoxyethylene-polysiloxane block copolymers. By our invention it is now possible to prepare aqueous solutions containing polysiloxanes for use, as tire mold release agents and in textile lubricating agents where it is desired to provide a simple and inexpensive vehicle for these agents. The insoluble polyoxyethylenepolydihydrocarbonsiloxane copolymers are also useful as mold release agents and, additionally as lubricants and rubber plasticizers.

The oxyalkylene blocks in the crosslinked copolymers of this invention are of the same type as the oxyalkylene blocks in the linear block copolymers of this invention. Such oxyalkylene blocks are fully described above.

The siloxane block in the crosslinked block copolymers of this invention is composed of silicon, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen and comprises one or more recurring trifunctional silicon unit, RSlOE, which can be graphically represented by the formula in which R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group as defined above or a polyvalent hydrocarbon group (e.g. CH2CH2, CH CH CH and and need not be the same throughout the siloxane block. The trifunctional silicon unit is interconnected from 1 to 3 other silicon atoms of the siloxane polymer through oxysilicon bonds,

A general formula of many crosslinked block copolymers of this invention is as follows:

where x is an integer and represents the number of trifunctional silicon atoms bonded to a single monovalent or polyvalent hydrocarbon radical, R; R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group as defined above; a is an integer hav ing a value of at least 1 and represents the number of polyoxyalkylene chains in the block copolymer; is an integer having a value of at least 3 and denotes the number of difunctional siloxane units, n is an integer from 2 to 4 denoting the number of carbon atoms in the oxyalkylene group; and z is an integer having a value at least 5 and denotes the length of the oxyalkylene chain. It will be understood further that such compositions of matter are mixtures of such block copolymers wherein y and z are of different values and that methods of determining the chain length of the polysiloxane chains and the polyoxyalkylene chains give values which represent average chain lengths. In the above Formula i, R represents monovalent hydrocarbon radicals, such as alkyl, aryl or aralkyl radicals, the polyoxyalkylene chain termimates with a hydrogen atom, R is an alkyl radical or a trihydrocarbonsilyl radical having the formula R Si where R is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical and terminates a siloxane chain, and R represents a monovalent or polyvalent hydrocarbon radical, being monovalent where x is 1, divalent when x is 2, trivalent when x is 3, tetravalent when x is 4.

One type of crosslinked block copolymer is represented when x in Formula i is one, and in this instance a branch ed-chain formula may be postulated as follows:

where p+q+r=y of Formula i and has a minimum value of 3, the other subscripts being the same as in Formula i. In this instance, all three of the oxyalkylene chains are joined to the end of polysiloxane chains of the oxyalkylene chains are joined to the end of polysiloxane chains of the type -(R SiO)--. However, another type of branched-chain block copolymer exists when one of the oxyalkylene chains is attached through an oxygen atom to the trifunctional silicon atom bonded only to a single monovalent hydrocarbon radical (R). This formula may be given as follows:

R I 11(o..Hi.o).(Risio ,,0-si-o nzsiomcnnhonn O(C..H2.. )1H

where p+q=y of Formula i and has a minimum value of 3.

Another type of crosslinked block copolymer is represented when there are present therein two trifunctional silicon atoms each bonded to a single divalent hydrocarbon radical, and correspondingly present therein six polyoxyalkylene chains. Such block copolymers may be represented by the formula:

( 3 3) z m t n 2n)z ]6 where R, y, n and z are as designated for Formula i, and R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical. Expressed in structural form these block copolymers may be represented by the following formula:

where p+q+r+s+t+u is equal to y of Formula i and in this instance has a minimum value of 6.

Our crosslinked copolymers can be advantageously made by reacting an alkoxy trifunctional siloxane polymer with a hydroxy oxyalkylene polymer accompanied by the elimination of a molecule of an alkanol for each hydroxyl group of the hydroxy oxyalkylene polymer reacted and the attachment of one block of the oxyalkylene polymer to a block of siloxane polymer through a silicon oxy-carbon bond for each molecule of alkanol removed. This reaction which is aptly called a condensation reaction can be illustrated by the following equation:

13 wherein R is an alkyl group and R" is a monovalent group from the class of monovalent hydrocarbon groups and hydrogen. In the case where R" is hydrogen the reaction can continue in a manner illustrated by the following equation:

The condensation reactions depicted in the above Equations A and B for forming the crosslinked block copolymers are essentially reversible reactions and are advantageously forced to completion by the removal of alcoholic products, generally designated as ROH, from the reaction mixtures. It is apparent, furthermore, that the ultimate quantity of the alcoholic product removed from each reaction mixture provides an indication of the extent to which that particular condensation reaction between the alkoxy polysiloxane and the hydroxyoxyalkylene polymer reactants has reached completion. The rate at which the alcoholic product is removed from the reaction mixture additionally serves to indicate the rate at which the reaction is progressing. That is, if a large quantity of alcoholic product is removed Within a short period of reaction time, it may be concluded that the reaction is proceeding at a slow rate if the amount of alcoholic product removed in the given time is small.

Alkoxy-containing trifunctional polysil oxanes that are compatible with hydroxy oxyalkylene polymers readily react therewith. Thus, the reactions of Equations A and B can be carried out by heating simple mixtures of the silicone and glycol reactants and the catalyst at a temperature within the range of 80 C. to 250 C. However, the reactions appear to be more efiicient when the reactants are dissolved in a suitable solvent, such as, for example, toluene or xylene, in which the reacting substances are mutually soluble and, thus, brought into intimate contact. The reaction temperature can be readily controlled by the reflux temperature of the polysiloxanepolyoxyalkylene mono-o1 or diol solution and higher boiling solvents will permit higher reaction temepratures. Although the type of solvent is not critical to the success of the condensation reaction, it is preferably that the starting materials be mutually soluble therein. It is also advantageous to employ an amount of said solvent which is sufficient to provide a homogeneous solution of the starting materials at the reaction temperature. Such a reaction in a suitable solvent provides a more rapid condensation which more nearly approaches completion than in a similar reaction carried out in the absence of a mutual solvent.

Although the use of toluene and xylene as mutual solvents for the reaction mixture of this invention involving reactions A or B provides a high enough reaction temperature to carry out the condensation reaction to completion, under reflux at atmospheric pressure, toluene in certain instances, is to be preferred for practical reasons over xylene. It has been found that in some condensation reactions using reflux at atmospheric pressure for temperature control the higher reflux temperature provided by xylene as a solvent encourages undesirable side reactions producing water instead of the expected alcoholic product. This difliculty can be overcome by any suitable means, for example, by the use of reduced pressures, or by the use of a solvent, such as toluene, which provides a lower atmospheric reflux temperature, and thus, by lowering the reaction temperature, eliminate or lessen the tendency towards side reactions. When toluene is used as a solvent the alcoholic product, resulting from the condensation reaction, is removed as an azeotrope with toluene.

The catalyst which can be employed in the condensation reactions are depicted by equations A and B are,

in general, the organic acids, including trifluoroacetic acid, perfiuorobutyric acid, perfluoroglutaric acid, monochloroacetic acid, acetic acid, etc. or alkaline substances, such as potassium silanolate, KO(SiR O) K, wherein b is a positive integer and R is an alkyl radical such as ethyl or methyl. The organic acid catalysts are active with most starting materials, and are eflective at low concentrations, e.g., as low as 0.1 percent by weight of the starting materials. They produce colorless to lightcolored block copolymers and do not cause any degradation of the polysiloxane molecules to result in copolymeric products which are low in silicon content as is the tendency of mineral acid catalysts and alkaline catalysts. Of the organic acid catalysts, trifluoroacetic acid, perfiuorobutyric acid, and perfluoroglutaric acid provide exceptionally high catalytic activities, and therefore, are to be preferred.

The alkaline catalysts, in particular potassium silanolate containing about 3.0 percent by weight of potassium, exhibit very high catalystic activity. The use of alkaline catalysts, in some cases, tends to cause the degradation of the polysiloxane block during the condensation reaction to produce the corresponding cyclic polysiloxanes and organo-silicone products which are low in silicon content. The degradation reaction is of the reverible type and can be opposed by the addition to the initial reaction mixture of the cyclic polysiloxane expected to be produced by the degradation process brought about under the influence of the alkaline catalyst. While neutral and mildly basic aqueous solutions of the Water-soluble types of crosslinked block copolymers of this invention are stable against hydrolysis and remain clear and homogeneous for extremely long periods of time, strong acids and bases added to or initially present in and unremoved from these solutions tend to attack the hydrolyzable SiO-C bonds present in the molecules of said compounds to bring about the hydrolysis of said polysiloxane polyoxyalkylene block copolymers within a short time. The addition of hydrochloric acid, for example, to an aqueous solution of water-soluble polysiloxane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymers caused these solutions to become turbid within several minutes and separate into polyoxyalkylene glycol monoether aqueous layer and silicone oil or polysiloxane layer. The removal or neutralization of the acid catalyst employed in the condensation reaction, therefore, may be: desirable to provide a hydrolytically stable polysiloxane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymer. The neutralization of catalysts with stoichiometric amounts of a weak organic base, e.g. triethanolamine, monoethanolamine, monoisopropanolamine, dibutylamine, etc., or sodium bicarbonate, anhydrous ammonia, etc., is to be preferred over the removal of the catalyst, as by Washing with water, and subsequent treatment with absorption material such as silica gel or Magnesol, inasmuch as the latter process results only in an incomplete removal of the residual acid catalyst.

According to another embodiment of our process for producing the crosslinked block copolymers, the hydroxy oxyalkylene polymer can first be condensed with a trialkoxy monohydrocarbonsilane and the resulting product then equilibrated with a cyclic polydihydrocarbonsiloxane, e.g., the cyclic trimers or tetramers. The condensation reaction can be carried out as described above and the equilibration can be carried out in accordance with any suitable equilibration procedure, for example, as described in U.S. Patent No. 2,453,092.

According to still another embodiment of our process, our crosslinked block copolymers can be produced by the reaction of a siloxane containing silanic hydrogen atoms attached to difunctional silicon units with a hydroxy oxyalkylene polymer in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, e.g., piperidine. The silanic hydrogen atoms are displaced by oxyalkylene chains which are thus bonded to the siloxane polymer through carbon-oxy-silicon bonds, thereby forming the organo-silicone block copolymers of this invention, accompanied by the evolution of gaseous hydrogen as a co-product of the reaction.

The alkoxy trifunctional hydrocarbonsiloxane polymers which are reactants or starting materials for the production of the block copolymers of this invention are siloxane polymers which comprise one or more trifunctional silcon units to each of which is connected from one to two alkoxy groups. These siloxane polymers comprise recurring silicon units which can be represented by the formula:

wherein, R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, R is an alkyl group, e is 2, x is an integer from one to three, y is an integer, from Zero to three, and the sum of x and y is an integer from one to three, and x and y need not be the same throughout the polymer molecule. The ploymer molecule contains at least one silicon unit in which x and y are individually equal to 1.

Alkoxy trifunctional hydrocarbonsiloxane polymers can be made by any of the many methods known in the art. Illustratively, such trifunctional siloxane polymers are made according to the process described in the copending application of D. L. Bailey, Ser. No. 398,225, filed Dec. 14, 1953, now U.S. Patent 2,909,549.

Trifunctional siloxane polymers, themselves, can be reacted with monohydrocarbon trialkoxysilanes to produce alkoxy siloxane polymers of higher molecular weight. For example, the reaction between a trifunctional siloxane polymer of the type,

R, being an alkyl group, R being a monovalent hydrocarbon group and being an integer, and a trialkoxysilane forms mixtures of polymers of the following type structures:

wherein R designates a monovalent hydrocarbon group,

R represents an alkyl group and and c is a positive integer. Polymers produced from the reactants cited in this paragraph take on many different forms, two of which have been shown. In this case, also, the molecular weights of the products can be controlled by the charging ratios employed. A high ratio of siloxane to silane produces a higher molecular weight product. In addition, cyclic, highly branched chain and crosslinked varieties of the two polymers illustrated above are produced. Complex mixtures of alkoxy-containing trifunctional siloxane polymers can be prepared by reacting mixtures of difunctional siloxanes with trialkoxysilanes and mixtures or trifunctional siloxanes with mono-, di-, or trialkoxysilanes or mixtures thereof.

Hydroxy oxyalkylene polymers employed in the reaction to form our crosslinked block copolymers must posses a minimum chain length to be effective for the purposes of this invention. Such chain length is herein defined as a minimum of five oxyalkylene units which is the chain length found necessary to exert a significant effect on such properties as solubility and lubricity of the block copolymers. The specific effect contributed by the polyoxyalkylene chain will vary with the type of oxyalkylene unit making up the chain. Thus, polysiloxanepolyoxyalkylene block copolymers in which the oxyalkylene units are composed of oxypropylene units are water-insoluble, whereas the molecules may be watersoluble when the oxyalkylene unit is oxyethylene, depending on the polysiloxane-polyoxyethylene ratio. The polyoxyalkylene block copolymers will vary in solubility from water-soluble to water-insoluble when the polyoxyalkylene chain is composed of obth oxyethylene and oxy- I 5 propylene untis depending on their ratio and on the polysiloxane-polyoxyethylene ratio.

The polyoxyalkylene diols which can be employed as starting materials in the production of our crosslinked block copolymers include the polyoxyethylene diols, the polyoxypropylene diols, the polyoxybutylene diols, mixed polyoxyethylene-oxypropylene diols and the like. These polyoxypropylene diols, the polyoxybutylene, diols, mixed available in a wide range and variety of molecular weights, can themselves be made by reacting the corresponding alkylene oxide or oxides, with a diol starter. In this connection it it to be noted that when glycerol is used as a starter, according to our experience, addition of the alkylene oxide takes place at the two primary alcohol groups of the glycerol and the polyoxyalkylene addition product exhibits many of the properties of a diol of corresponding molecular weight. Alkylene oxide-glycerol addition products can also be used in making our block copolymers. When more than one alkylene oxide is employed, they can be first admixed and the admixture added to the starter, or they can be added to the starter in any other manner. United States Patent No. 1,921,378 describes a method of making addition products of ethylene oxide or of propylene oxide and mixed oxyethylene-oxypropylene diols are described in United States Patent No. 2,425,845. Polyoxybutylene diols can be made by the reaction of a butylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst for the condensation, for instance, borontrifluoride-etherate. Mixtures of different polyoxyalkylene diols can also be used as starting materials in producing our block copolymers.

It should be noted that by using an excess of the dihydroypolyoxyalkylene polymer we avoid excessive crosslinking between the starting materials and also provide for the ready completion of the reaction which leads to the production of copolymers which are predominantly of the type set forth in Formula II. Undoubtedly some crosslinking will occur during the reaction and the presence of some amounts of crosslinked copolymers (both partial and complete) will be present in the reaction product. Thus, for example, a small amount of partially crosslinked copolymers of the following type is probably present in the reaction product.

Crosslinked polymers of the above type are for the most part soluble in the reaction and will not materially affect the useful properties thereof. However, if some amounts of completely crosslinked materials are present they will be insoluble in the reaction product and can be removed therefrom by filtration or other suitable means.

Polyoxyalkylene moncrols which can also be used as starting materials in the production of our crosslinked block copolymers can be made in accordance with known methods by reacting the corresponding alkylene oxide or oxides with a mono-o1 starter.

Monohydroxy polyoxypropylene monoethers, i.e., polyoxyoxypropylene mono-01s, suitable for the practice of the invention are described in Fife and Roberts U.S. Patent No. 2,448,664. In addition, polyoxyalkylene monoethers containing both oxyethylene and oxypropylene groups in the molecule may be formed by the addition of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide to a monohydric alcohol to form oxyalkylene chains composed of oxyethylene groups and oxypropylene groups. Monohydroxy oxyethyleneoxy-1,2-propylene monoethers having both oxyethylene and oxypropylene groups in the molecule are described in Roberts and Fife U.S. Patent No. 2,425,755.

Other hydroxy oxyalkylene polymers which can be used in preparing our crosslinked copolymers and methods for their preparation are described in the A.C.S. Monograph No. 114, entitled Glycols, G. O. Curme and F. Johnston, editors, Reinhold Publishing Corp, 1952. It is also well known that hydroxy oxyalkylene polymers can be made by reacting alkylene oxides with other compounds having a labile hydrogen atom. Examples of such compounds are alkyl and aryl thiols, such as ethyl and butyl thiols, and alkyl and aryl amines and diamines, such as mono-butyland dibutylamine, hexamethylene diamine and aniline. Such hydroxy oxyalkylene polymers made from such diverse starting material also form block copolymers of the same general type with polysiloxane polymers as the starting fragment of the hydroxy oxyalkylene polymer forms an insignificant fraction of the block copolymer.

A unique property of some crosslinked block copolymers introduced by this invention is their water-solubility, and block copolymers having that fraction of their molecular weight which is attributable to oxyethylene units approximately equal to or greater than those fraction which are attributable to the sum of polysiloxane units, and oxypropylene and/or oxybutylene units are water-soluble, and are at least partially water-soluble when the mole-fraction of oxyethylene units is at least one-fourth of the sum of mole-fractions of the oxybutylene and/or oxypropylene units and the siloxane units. Certain of the water-soluble copolymers are also soluble in some organic solvents such as benzene and are useful as emulsifying agents for watersilicone and water-organic solvent mixtures. Other of the water-soluble copolymers particularly those containing attached vinyl groups are useful as sizes for fibrous glass.

Our crosslinked block copolymers wherein the polyoxyalkylene block contains few or no oxyethylene units are not water-soluble, but they can be mixed with the starting monohydroxy polyoxy-alkylene monoethers or the corresponding diols, or diethers, and form useful compositions in combination therewith. A typical example is the mixture of mono-butyl ether of polyoxy-l, 2-propylene glycol and the block copolymer produced from the reaction of this glycol with an alkoxy trifunctional hydrocarbyl polysiloxane. Such a mixture exhibits markedly improved lubrieating properties.

A truly remarkable property of certain of our crosslinked block copolymers is their load-carrying capacity as metal-to-metal lubricants for moving surfaces. Silicone fluids, such as dimethyl silicone oils, are very poor lubricants for such service, having practically no load-carrying capacity. However, it has been found that the block copolymers, whose polysiloxane content corresponds to a silicon content of between 2 percent and 25 percent silicon by weight are excellent metal-to-metal lubricants and have better load-carrying capacity than the polyoxyalkylene fluids and dimethyl silicone oils.

The block copolymers of this invention of both the linear variety and the crosslinked variety which contain an oxyalklene block terminated with a trihydrocarbonsiloxy group are readily prepared from otherwise identical copolymers of this invention containing hydroxyl chain terminating groups. Such hydroxyl chain terminating groups are readily converted to trihydrocarbonsiloxy chain terminating groups by reaction with a trihydrocarbonhalosilane in the presence of an amine hydrogen halide acceptor. This reaction can be represented by the following skeletal equation:

wherein R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group or a hydrogen atom and X is a halogen atom. This reaction is conveniently conducted at temperatures from C. to 50 C. The salt produced in the reaction (i.e. NR .HX) is insoluble in the reaction mixture and can be readily separated from the block copolymer by filtration. Solvents (e.g. benzene and toluene) can be used as a reaction medium. Suitable trihydrocarbonhalosilanes (i.e. XSiR include trimethylchlorosilane, triethylchlorosilane, tripropylbromosilane and triphenylbromosilane. By this reaction, any hydroxyl chain terminating group in our block copolymers can be replaced by such trihydrocarbonsiloxy groups as the trimethylsiloxy, triethylsiloxy, tripropylsiloxy and triphenylsiloxy groups.

The following examples illustrate the present invention.

Examples 1 to 17 illustrate the preparations of crosslinked block copolymers of this invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of vinylethoxypolysiloxane In a five-liter flask fitted with a dropping funnel, stirrer and condenser was placed 1454 grams (9.0 moles) of vinyltrichlorosilane. Over a period of l hour there were added 1100 grams (24 moles) of ethanol at room temperature. The reaction mixture was then heated with stirring to C. over a period of 4.5 hours. The contents of the flask were cooled to 30 C., isopropyl ether (320 milliliters) added, and the dropwise addition of water (144 grams, 8 moles) made over a period of 1 hour. The reaction mixtures was then heated at reflux for 3 hours. The resulting solution was cooled to room temperature, filtered, and the filtrates neutralized by addition of solid sodium bicarbonate. After filtration to remove solid salts, the ether solution was stripped at room temperature at a pressure of 24 millimeters of mercury absolute to remove the solvent. The resulting product, a clear, colorless oil, weighed 811 grams (88 percent yield based on theroetical) and had a viscosity of 58 centipoises. The ethoxy group to silicon ratio of this fluid was 0.65 indicating a 27 weight percent content of ethoxy groups as shown by analysis of Si and ethoxy groups.

EXAMPLE 2 Block copolymer from a vinylethoxypolysiloxane and a monomethyl ether of a polyoxyethylene glycol (av. m.w. 750) In a one-liter flask connected to a fractionating column there were placed 50 grams of vinylethoxypolysiloxane (such as that prepared in Example 1) containing 27 percent ethoxy groups by weight (equivalent of 0.3 mole of ethoxy groups) and an average of 8 silicon units per molecule, 225 grams (0.3 mole) polyoxyethylene glycol monomethyl ether having an average molecular weight of 750, 250 cubic centimeters of xylene, and 0.5 gram of trifluoroacetic acid catalyst. The reaction mixture was heated at the atmospheric reflux temperature of about 145 C. for five hours during which time 13.5 grams of material, distilling at a temperature within the range from 70 to 80 C. and consisting primarily of ethyl alcohol, was removed from the head of the column. After removing the solvent under a reduced pressure of 9 millimeters of mercury, absolute, at a maximum temperature of 75 C. there was obtained 263 grams of a thick, water-soluble oil, representing the organo-silicone block copolymer, which behaved as an emulsifying agent for benzene-water mixtures A further application of this copolymer was in the sizing of glass cloth by aqueous solutions of said copolymer.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of phenylethoxypolysiloxane In a -gallon kettle there were placed 423 pounds (2 moles) of phenyltrichlorosilane. Eighty-three pounds (1.804 moles) of ethanol were added slowly with stirring at 30 C. After addition of isopropyl ether (56.8 pounds), the partial ester formed was then hydrolyzed by the addition of water (37.8 pounds, 2.098 moles). The resulting solution was heated at reflux for 2 hours to expel hydrogen chloride gas. Residual hydrogen chloride was then neutralized by addition of the required amount of sodium bicarbonate. The mixture was filtered, vacuum desolvated at 100 C. and 25 millimeters of mercury absolute and filtered again to obtain a clear colorless product weighing 324.8 pounds and containing 25.2 weight percent residual ethoxy groups. The product had an average of eight silicon units per molecule as shown by cryoscopic molecular weight measurements in cyclohexane (molecular weight equals 1100 to 1400).

EXAMPLE 4 Block copolymer from a phenylethoxypolysiloxane and a monobutyl ether of a polyoxypropylene glycol (av. m.w. 1000) In a one-liter flask connected to a fractionating column there were placed 35.5 grams of phenylethoxypolysiloxane (such as that prepared in Example 3) containing 25.3 percent ethoxy groups by weight (0.20 mole) an average of 8 silicon units per molecule, 200 grams (0.20 moles) of the monobutyl ether of polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 1000, and 0.5 gram of potassium dimethyl silanolate catalyst (containing 3 percent potassium by weight). The mixture was heated under a reduced pressure at a temperature of about 200 C. until ethanol was no longer evolved. There was obtained 226 grams of a polymeric oil, representing the organo-silicone block copolymer, having a viscosity of 170.8 centistokes at 100 F. This copolymer had good metal-to-metal lubricating properties. For example, it carried a load of 1250 lb. in a standard Falex load test for steel-on-steel surfaces, whereas, under these same conditions, a dimethyl silicone oil of comparable viscosity carried less than a 100 lb. load.

EXAMPLE 5 Block copolymer from a phenylethoxypolysiloxane and a monobutyl ether of a polyoxypropylene glycol (av. m.w. 1000) In a one-liter flask connected to a fractionating column there were placed 35.5 grams of phenylethoxypolysiloxane (such as that prepared in Example 3) containing 25.3 percent ethoxy groups by weight and an average of 8 silicon units per molecule, 200 grams (0.2 mole) of monobutyl ether of polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 1000, 200 cubic centimeters of xylene and 0.5 gram of potassium dimethyl silanolate catalyst (containing 3 percent potassium by weight). The reaction mixture was heated at the atmospheric reflux temperature of about 145 C. for a period of several hours during which time grams of material distilling at a temperature between 77 C and 80 C. and consisting mainly of ethyl alcohol was removed from the head of the column. After removing the solvent from the reaction mixture under a reduced pressure, there was obtained 223 grams of a clear polymeric oil, representing the organo-silicone block copolymer, having a viscosity of 487 centistokes at 100 F. This material lubricated steelon-steel surfaces and carried a load of 1250 pounds in the standard Falex test machine, whereas a dimethylsiloxane oil of comparable viscosity carried less than a 100 lb. load under the ame conditions.

The crosslined organo-silicone block copolymers of this invention and the novel processes for making them are further illustrated by Examples 6 through 8 herein. In these examples an alkoxy trifunctional hydrocarbyl siloxane is reacted with a polyoxyalkylene glycol in accordance with Equations A and B above, to produce copolymers having polysiloxane blocks crosslinked by polyoxyalkylene blocks. The molar ratios of polyoxyalkylene glycol to alkoy groups in the siloxane polymer in the following examples are equal to 0.5.

EXAMPLE 6 Block copolymer from a phenylethoxypolysiloxane and a polyoxyethylene glycol (av. m.w. 550) In a one-liter flask connected to a fractionating column there was placed 120 grams (0.22 mole) of polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 550, and 200 cubic centimeters of xylene. The solution was heated at the atmospheric reflux temperature of about 145 C. and any dissolved water present was removed from the head of the column. At this point, 35.5 grams of phenylethoxypolysiloxane containing 25.3 percent ethoxy groups by weight (0.20 mole) and an average of 8 silicon units per molecule and 1.5 grams of potassium dimethyl silanolate catalyst (containing 3.0 percent potassium by weight) were added to the reaction flask. The mixture was heated at the atmospheric reflux temperature (about C.) for 5 hours during which time 13 grams of material distilling at a temperature within the range from 76 C. to 130 C. and consisting mainly of ethyl alcohol and a small amount of xylene were removed from the head of the column. The reaction mixture was stripped of solvent under reduced pressure and there was obtained approximately grams of a gummy, solid product, representing the organo-silicone block copolymer, which was soluble in water and benzene and behaved as an emulsifying agent for benzene-water mixtures.

EXAMPLE 7 Block copolymer from a vinylethoxypolysiloxane and a polyoxyethylene glycol (av. m.w. 550) In a one-liter flask connecter to a fractionating column there were placed 90 grams (0.16 mole) of polyoxyethylene glycol, having an average molecular weight of about 550, and 200 cubic centimers of xylene. This solution was heated at the atmospheric reflux temperature of about C. and any water present was removed from the head of the column. At this point 50 grams of vinylethoxypolysiloxane (such as that prepared in Example 1) containing 27 percent ethoxy groups by weight (0.3 mole) and an average of 8 silicon units per molecule and 0.5 gram of trifluoroacetic acid catalyst were added. The reaction mixture was then heated at the atmospheric reflux temperature of about 145 C. for 4 hours during which time 4.6 grams of ethyl alcohol were removed at the head of the column. After removing the solvent at a temperature of C. under an absolute pressure of 10 millimeters of mercury, absolute, there was obtained 125 grams of a thick, water-soluble oil, representing the organo-silicone block copolymer. This particular copolymer exhibited properties making it suitable as a glass cloth size.

EXAMPLE 8 Block copolymer from a vinylethoxypolysiloxane and a polyoxyethylene glycol (av. m.w. 1540) In a one-liter flask connected to a fractionating column there were placed 50 grams of vinylethoxypolysiloxane (such as that prepared in Example 1) containing an average of 8 silicon atoms to the molecule and 27 percent ethoxy groups by weight (equivalent to 0.3 mole ethoxy groups), 230 grams (0.15 mole) of polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular Weight of about 1540, 500 cubic centimeters of xylene and 1.5 grams of trifluoroacetic acid catalyst. The mixture was heated at the atmospheric reflux temperature of about 145 C. for 4 hours after which time ethanol ceased to collect at the head of the column. The solvent was removed at a temperature of C., under a 100 millimeters of mercury absolute pressure. The resulting block copolymer, weighing 260 grams, was a hard, brittle, infusible solid which was insoluble in water and exhibited a highly crosslinked character. The block copolymer made herein can be used as an anti-static agent for textile fibers by causing its formation on such fibers.

Block copolymers were prepared in a manner similar to the preparation set forth in the foregoing examples 21 taining methoxy groups instead of ethoxy groups can be reacted with polyoxyalkylene mono-01s and diols and result in products of corresponding properties.

EXAMPLE 9 An oxyalkylene polymer having the average formula:

Howrnolno). CHCHzO (CHzCHgO) H lHs )h wherein a and c each have an average value of 9.2 and b has an average value of 20.7 (139.7 grams, 0.070 mole) was dehydrated by forming a solution thereof with toluene (300 cc.) and then distilling a water-toluene azeotrope from the mixture. The dehydrated solution of oxyalkylene polymer was then cooled to 60 C. and was mixed with trifluoroacetic acid (0.5 gram) and with a siloxane polymer (35.3 grams, 0.0205 mole, 0.062 equivalent of OC H having the average formula:

[ z s 2 dls z s wherein d has an average value of 6. An ethanol-toluene azeotrope was distilled and then sodium bicarbonate (1.9 grams, 0.023 mole) was added. The resulting mixture was heated for two hours and filtered. The filtrate was sparged with nitrogen and the residue was a pale yellow, water-soluble copolymer having the average formula:

Values of subscripts in formulae and a b c d One mole of the starting siloxane per 3.3 moles of the starting oxyalkylene polymer were reacted in each run.

EXAMPLE 10 Following the procedure set forth in Examples 9, 3.3 moles of an oxyalkylene polymer having the formula:

and 1.0 moles of a siloxane represented by Formula 2 wherein d has an average value of 6 were reacted in the presence of 0.1 wt. percent 2,6-di-tertiary-p-cresol as an antioxidant to produce a block copolymer having the formula:

CH3 M Such antioxidants can be used in producing our block copolymers but they are not essential in the process.

EXAMPLE 1 1 The procedure used in Example 10 was repeated except that the starting oxyalkylene polymer had the formula:

HO(OHgCHzO)sa-2(([JHCHzO H 22 The block copolymer so produced had the formula:

[ rCH2O)3a.2 oHoI-no (Me SiOM SiO H (ClHa )u EXAMPLE 12 Following the procedure described in Example 9, 3.3

moles of an oxyalkylene polymer having the average formula:

HO(CH CH O) H was reacted with one mole of a siloxane polymer represented by Formula 2 wherein d has an average value of 6. The block copolymer so produced had the formula:

the block copolymer was reacted with trimethylchlorosilane in the presence of diethyl amine. A precipitate formed and was separated from the liquid produced by filtration. The liquid produced was a block copolymer having the formula:

) 33(MfizSiO SiC H EXAMPLE 13 Following the procedure described in Example 9, 3.3 moles of an oxyalkylene polymer having the average formula:

HO (CH CH O H was reacted with one mole of a siloxane polymer represented by Formula 2 wherein d has an average value of 12.7. The block copolymer so produced had the formula: 2 2 )7s( 2 )12.7]3 2 5 The block copolymer was reacted with trimethylchlorosilane in the presence of diethyl amine. A precipitate formed and was separated from the liquid produced by filtration. The liquid produced was a block copolymer having the formula:

EXAMPLE 14 Following the procedure described in Example 9, 3.3 moles of an oxyalkylene copolymer having the formula:

HO CHCHrO H were reacted with one mole of a siloxane represented by Formula 2 wherein d is 6. The block copolymer so produced had the formula:

[HO((FHCHzO)(MeSiOhlaSiCgHs EXAMPLE 15 Following the procedure described in Example 9, 3.3 moles of an oxyalkylene polymer represented by Formula 1 wherein a and c each have an average value of 25.5 and b has an average value of 38.7 was reacted with one mole of a siloxane having the formula:

[Me CHO (Me SiO SiMe to produce a block copolymer having the formula:

[HO(CH OH2O)25.a CHOHzO (C 2CH20)25.5(M82 )6]aSiM8 (JP/H3 am EXAMPLE 16 The procedure used in Example 15 was repeated except that the starting oxyalkylene polymer had the formula:

HO (CHCHZO)H Ha as there was so produced a siloxane having the formula:

[HO CHCHgO)(MezSiO kSiMB 23 EXAMPLE 17 In accordance with the procedures described above, a

block copolymer having the formula:

HO(CH CH O) SiMe (OSiMe OSiMe was produced by reacting an oxyalkylene polymer having the formula:

HO(CH CH O) H and a siloxane polymer having the formula: C H OSiMe OSiMe OSiMe Examples 18 to 36 illustrate the production of linear block copolymers of this invention.

EXAMPLE 18 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy polydimethylsiloxane (a.m.w. 1036) and a polyoxyethylene glycol (a.m.w. 500) Fifty grams or 0.1 mole of polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 500 was dissolved in 200 milliliters of xylene and charged to a 500 milliliter flask with 103.6 grams or 0.1 mole of diethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 1036 and 1.5 grams of trifluoroacetic acid catalyst. A fractionating column was attached to the flask and the charge was heated to its reflux temperature of about 120 C. to 140 C. at atmospheric pressure. Refluxing at this temperature and atmospheric pressure was continued for a period of 4 hours during which time 8.6 grams of material found to be ethanol boiling at a temperature of 79 C. to 80 C. was removed at the head of the column. When the temperature at the head of the column reached 140 C., a reduced pressure was applied and the contents of the flask were stripped of xylene and by-products leaving a viscous liquid product. The reduced viscosity of the product was determined to be 0.244 and it was found to contain 23.6 percent silicon by weight. By a theoretical calculation based on a complete reaction, the silicon content was 24.9 percent by weight.

EXAMPLE 19 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy polydimethylsiloxane (a.m.w. 1036) and a polyoxyethylene glycol (a.m.w. 500) Three-hundred and eighty-four grams of polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 5 00 were dissolved in 500 milliliters of xylene and were charged to a 2 liter flask with a fractionating column having a Dean- Stark head. The charge was refluxed at a temperature of 140 C. at atmospheric pressure and about 0.3 milliliter of water was removed. The charge then was cooled and 320 grams of diethoxy endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 1036 and 4.5 grams of postassium silanolate containing 3 percent by weight of potassium were added. The reaction mixture was heated at its reflux temperature of about 120 C. to 140 C. at atmospheric pressure, 29.6 grams of alcoholic material was removed at the column head within the temperature range of 77 C. to 80 C. This alcoholic material was found to have a refractive index at 20 C. with sodium light of 1.3728 and was determined to contain 26.3 grams of ethanol as compared with a 29.4 gram theoretical yield based on a complete reaction. The contents of the flask were stripped of solvent and lay-products under a reduced pressure and at a temperature of 200 C. yielding a soft waxy product. An elemental analysis of the product showed that it contained 15.7 percent by weight silicon as compared with the theoretical calculation based on a complete reaction of 16.3 percent silicon by weight.

EXAMPLE 20 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy polydimethylsiloxane (a.m.w. 2220) and a polyoxyalkylene glycol (a.m.w.)

Three hundred grams of polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 6000, 107.3 grams of di- 24 ethoxy endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average of 28 dimethylsiloxy units,

per molecule and an average molecular weight of 2146, 107.3 grams of dimethylsiloxane cyclic tetramer, 4.0 grams of potassium dimethyl silanolate catalyst containing 3 percent by weight of potassium and 464 grams of xylene were added to a 2 liter flask with a. fractionating column attached. The contents of the flask formed a two-layer liquid system which persisted after heating to 145 C. to 150 C. Additional xylene in the amount of 250 milliliters was added and reflux at a temperature of 140 C. at atmospheric pressure was achieved and maintained for a period of one hour. During this time 4.4 grams of low-boiling material boiling at a temperature of 78 C. to 80 C. and analyzed as ethanol were removed at the head of the column. A theoretical calculation based on a complete reaction indicated that 4.6 grams of ethanol be produced. The contents of the flask were stripped of solvent and by-products resulting in 335 grams of a hard waxy product, having an experimentally determined silicon content of 9.4 percent by weight. A theoretical calculation of silicon content indicated 9.6 percent silicon by weight. This example illustrates the method for controlling any alkaline catalyst-caused degradation which may occur during the reaction of the dimethylsiloxane chain.

EXAMPLE 21 Block copolymers from a dialkoxy polydimethylsiloxane (a.m.w. 1036) and a polyoxyethylene glycol (a.m.-w. 550) In a 250 cubic centimeter flask connected to a fractionating column there were placed 15 grams of polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 550, 20 grams of diethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 1036, 0.35 gram of potassium dimethylsilanolate catalyst (containing 3 percent by weight of potassium), and 50 cubic centimeters of xylene. The molar ratio of glycol to polysiloxane used herein was equal to about 1.41. The above reactants were heated at the reflux temperature C.) at atmospheric pressure for 3 hours during which time a small amount of material containing ethyl alcohol was removed from the head of the column. About 0.60 gram of n-amyl borate was then added to neutralize the potassium silanolate catalyst and the reaction mixture heated at the reflux temperature for an additional hour. Removal of the toluene solvent by distillation resulted in 29.5 grams of a viscous oily product. On standing the copolymer converted to a soft wax which had good emulsifying properties. An elemental chemical analysis performed on the product of this example is shown below along with a theoretical analysis based on the ratio of reactants:

Block copolymer from a dialkoxy dimethylpolysiloxane (21(1).w.1036) and a polyoxyethylene glycol (a.m.w. 1

In a two-liter flask connected to a fractionating column there were placed grams of polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 1540, 103.6 grams of diethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 103 6, 1.30 grams of perfluorobutyric acid and 750 cubic centimeters of xylene. The molar ratio of glycol to polysiloxane used herein was equal to about 0.94. The mixture was heated at the reflux temperature (about 140 C.) under atmospheric pressure for 16 hours, during which time material containing ethyl alcohol and distilling below the boiling point of xylene was removed from the head of the column. After removal of the solvent by distillation under reduced pressure there was obtained 235 grams of a hard, Water-soluble, wax-like product having a reduced viscosity of 0.301.

EXAMPLE 23 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy polydimethylsiloxane (a.'m.w. 1036) and a polyoxyethylene glycol (a.m.w. 3700) In a one-liter flask there were placed 112.5 grams of polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 3700, 51.8 grams of diethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 1036, 0.25 gram of perfluorobutyric acid catalyst and 500 cubic centimeters of xylene. The number of moles of glycol per mole of polysiloxane used herein was equal to approximately 0.61. The mixture was heated at the reflux temperature (about 140 C.) under atmospheric pressure for hours during which time a low-boiling material identified as ethyl alcohol was removed along with some solvent from the head of the column. The flask was then kept at 145 (L-150 C. in a constant temperature bath for 16 hours. Upon removal of the xylene solvent under reduced pressure there was obtained 150 grams of a Watersoluble, brittle wax-like product having a reduced specific viscosity of 0.11.

EXAMPLE 24 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy polydimethylsiloxane (a.m.w. 1036) and a polyoxyethylene glycol (a.m.w. 6000) In a one-liter flask connected to a fractionating column there were placed 120 grams of polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 6000, 20.7 grams of diethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 1036, 0.15 gram of trifluoroacetic acid catalyst and 600 cubic centimeters of xylene. The molar ratio of glycol to polysiloxane in this example was equal to 1. The mixture was heated at the reflux temperature (about 145 C.) under atmospheric pressure for 16 hours, during which time a clear solution was obtained, and low-boiling material containing alcohol was removed from the head of the column. After distilling ofl the xylene solvent under reduced pressure there was obtained a tough, horny, solid product having a reduced specific viscosity of 0.544.

EXAMPLE 25 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy polydimethylsiloxane (a.m.w. 16,500) and a polyoxyethylene glycol (a.m.w. 6000) In a two-liter flask there were placed 120 grams of polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 6000, 165 grams of diethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 16,500, 0.3 gram of trifluoroacetic acid catalyst and 1250 cubic centimeters of xylene. The ratio of moles of polyoxyethylene glycol per mole of polysiloxane used in this example was equal to 2. The mixture was heated at the reflux temperature of about 145 C. under atmospheric pressure for 16 hours while slowly removing a mixture of solvent and a material identified as ethyl alcohol at the head of the column. Upon stripping the xylene solvent under reduced pressure there was obtained 270 grams of a gummy, water-insoluble solid having a reduced specific viscosity of 0.389 and representing the product.

26 EXAMPLE 26 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy polydimethylsiloxane 75,000) and a polyoxyethylene glycol (a.m.w. 0

In a one-liter flask there were placed '6 grams of polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 6000, 75 grams of diethoxy-endblocked dimethylpolysiloxane having an average molecular weight of 75,000, 0.1 gram of trifluoroacetic acid catalyst and 500 cubic centimeters of xylene. The molar ratio of glycol to polysiloxane used herein being equal to l. The mixture was heated at the reflux temperature of about 145 C. under atmospheric pressure for 20 hours, during which time a low-boiling material produced by the reaction and identified as ethyl alcohol containing some solvent were slowly removed at the head of the column. Upon removal of the xylene solvent under reduced pressure there was obtained 8.0 grams of a thick milky syrup as product.

The following example typifies the two-step, alternate method illustrated by Equations IV and V for producing our linear block copolymers of this invention.

EXAMPLE 27 Block copolymer comprising polyoxyethylene blocks and polydimethylsiloxane blocks In a 500 cubic-centimeter flask connected to a fractionating column, there were placed grams of polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular Weight of 550, 35.5 grams of diethoxy-dimethylsilane, 1.0 gram of potassium dimethyl silanolate catalyst containing about 3 percent by weight of potassium and 200 cubic-centimeters of xylene solvent. The mixture was heated at the reflux temperature of about C. under atmospheric pressure for 12 hours during which time 23 grams of lowboiling material comprising mainly ethyl alcohol was removed from the head of the column. Removal of the solvent from the reaction mixture under a reduced pressure resulted in 133 grams of a soft wax-like polymeric product containing about 3.4 percent by weight of silicon.

A mixture of 25.2 grams of the polymeric product produced above, 14.8 grams of dimethylsiloxane cyclic tetramer, 0.5 gram of potassium silanolate catalyst and 50 grams of xylene solvent were placed in a 250 cubic centimeter flask and heated at C. for 3 hours. After heating 0.25 gram of n-amyl borate was added to neutralize the catalyst. Upon cooling the reaction mixture to room temperature, centrifuging the solution to remove suspended solids, and stripping the solvent under reduced pressure-there was obtained 32 grams of a soft waxy product containing 12.7 percent by weight of silicon.

EXAMPLE 27 Block copolymers from polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycols and dialkoxy polydihydrocarbylsiloxane Polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycols which can be used in producing our block copolymers are polymeric compositions comprising long chain, polyoxypropylene molecules formed of at least five repeating oxy 1,2 propylene groups, CH C H O, with a hydroxyl group attached to each end of each molecule. These glycols may be prepared by the addition reaction of 1,2-propylene oxide to water, 1,2-propylene glycol or the lower polymers of 1,2-

propylene glycols and are normally produced as mixtures of polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycols of various molecular weights. The average molecular weights of polyoxy-l,2- propylene glycols useful in forming our block copolymers range from approximately 308 to 3000 higher as for the highly polymerized, long chain polyoxy1,2-propylene glycols.

Linear copolymers prepared form polyoxy-LZ-propylene glycols and alkoxy-endblocked polysiloxanes in the manner taught by this invention are water-insoluble,viscous oils having lubricating qualities which lend them to uses as lubricants. Such block copolymers can also be dissolved in polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycols, or ethers and diethers thereof, and can be employed as hydraulic fluids or lubricants. These block copolymers can also be mixed with polysiloxanes and employed as lubricants therewith. The following typical examples illustrate methods of preparing several specific polydihydrocarbylsiloxane-polyoxy 1,2-propylene glycol copolymers.

EXAMPLE 28 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy polydimethyl-siloxane (a.m.w. 2220) and a polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycol (a.m.w. 1025) I In a 200 cubic centimeter flask there were placed 10.25 grams of polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 1025, 20.0 grams of dimethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 2220 and 100 cubic centimeters of xylene. The number of moles of polyoxy 1,2-propylene glycol per mole of polysiloxane was equal to about 0.9. No additional catalyst was needed since 0.09 gram of potassium dirnethylsilanolate catalyst (containing 3.0 wt. percent potassium) was present in the siloxane polymer. The mixture was refluxed at a temperature of about 145 C. under atmospheric pressure for an hour and then the xylene solvent distilled off at atmospheric pressure. There was obtained 28 grams of a clear light oil.

(a.m.w. 2220) and a polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycol (a.m.w. 2400) In a one-liter flask connected to a fractionating column there were placed 100 grams of polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 2025, 92.5 grams of dimethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 2220, 1 gram of potassium dimethylsilanolate catalyst (containing 3 percent by weight of potassium), and 400 cubic centimeters of xylene. The molar ratio of polyoxy 1,2-propylene glycol to polysiloxane used in this example was about 1.2. The mixture was heated at the reflux temperature of about 145 C. under atmospheric pressure for 3 hours during which time a low-boiling material identified as ethyl alcohol was removed from the head or the column along with some solvent. At this point, 0.2 gram of namyl borate was added to neutralize the catalyst. Upon removal of the solvent under a reduced pressure there was obtained 135 grams of clear, viscous oily product having a viscosity of 747 cs. at 100 F. and a reduced specific viscosity of 0.21.

Block copolymers from polyoxyet-hylene-polyoxy-1,2- propylene glycols and dialkoxy polydimethylsiloxanes Polyoxyethylene-polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycols which can be used in producing our block copolymers are polymeric compositions comprising long chain moleclules formed of a total of at least five oxyethylene units and oxy-1,2-propylene units with terminal hydroxyl groups. These glycols may be prepared by reacting ethylene oxide and 1,2-propylene oxide sequentially or concurrently with water, and aliphatic dihydroxy alcohol, e.g., ethylene glycol or 1,2-propylene glycol, or lower polymers of ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol or ethylene-1,2-propylene glycols. The average molecular weights of polyoxyethylene-polyoxy 1,2 propylene glycols which are particularly useful in forming our block copolymers range from 250 to 20,000 and higher.

The linear block copolymers having polydi-hydrocarbon siloxane blocks and polyoxyethylene-polyoxy-1,2- propylene blocks range in physical properties from viscous oils to gummy solids and from water-insoluble products to water-soluble products. Moreover, such block copolymers can be obtained with specific physical properties, as desired, by the selection of starting materials and molar ratios in which the starting materials are used. For

example, block copolymers in which the polyoxyalkylene blocks are derived from water-insoluble polyoxyalkylene glycols are water-insoluble. Also, we have found that, block copolymers which individually have at least 50 percent by weight of their composition which is attributable to the oxyethylene groups are water-soluble.

The following table, Table III, illustrates the eifect found to be exerted on the water-solubility of polyoxyethylene polyoxy 1,2 propylene polysiloxane by the relative weight fractions attributable to oxyethylene units, oxypropylene units and siloxane units in the copolymer molecule. The linear block copolymers represented in this table were produced from diethoxy polydimethylsiloxanes and polyoxyalkylene glycols containing 75 percent by weight of oxyethylene groups and 25 percent by weight of oxy-l,2-propylene groups.

Alcoholic solutions of the water-insoluble linear block copolymers formed of polyoxyethylene-polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycols and dialkoxy polydihydrocarbylsiloxanes are soluble in water. Such copolymers, in addition to the water-soluble types, are useful as mold release compounds, emulsifying agents and rubber plasticizers. The following specific examples serve to typify copolymeric products of this type and methods for obtaining them.

EXAMPLE 30 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy-polydimethylsiloxane (a.m.w 518) and a polyoxyethylene-polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycol (a.m.w. 400) In a 500 cubic centimeter flask there were placed 80.0 grams of polyoxyethylene-polyoxy-l,2-propylene glycol comprising about 75 percent by weight of ethylene oxide and 25 percent by weight of propylene oxide and having an average molecular weight of 400, 51.8 grams of diethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 518, 0.2 gram trifluoroacetic acid catalyst and 250 cubic centimeters of toluene. The moles of polyoxyethylene-polyoxy 1,2-propylene glycol per mole of diethoxy-end-blocked polydimethylsiloxane equalled 2. The mixture was heated at the reflux temperature of about C. for 4 hours during which time 13 grams of low-boiling material containing 8.9 grams of ethanol were removed at the head of the column. Removal of the toluene under reduced pressure gave 118 grams of a clear, colorless, water-insoluble oil.

EXAMPLE 31 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy-polydimethylsiloxane a.m.w. 16,000) and a polyoxyethylene-polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycol (a.m.w. 4560) In a one-liter flask there were placed 36.5 grams of polyoxyethylene-polyoxy-l,Z-propylene glycol comprising about 75 percent by weight of ethylene oxide and 25 percent by weight of propylene oxide and having an average molecular weight of 4560, 65 grams of diethoxyendblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 16,000, 0.75 gram of trifluoroacetic acid catalyst and 500 cubic centimeters xylene. The molar ratio of polyoxyethylene-polyoxy-l,2-propylene glycol to ethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane used herein was equal to 2. The mixture was heated at the reflux temperature of about C. for 5 hours during which time some solvent and a low-boiling material identified as ethyl alcohol were removed at the head of the column. After cooling the solution, anhydrous NH was bubbled through the solution for two minutes to neutralize the catalyst. The xylene was stripped under reduced pressure and there was obtained 99 grams of a gummy, Waterinsoluble, solid, alcoholic solutions of which were completely miscible with water.

EXAMPLE 32 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy-polydimethylsiloxane (a.m.w. 2146) and a polyoxyethylene-polyoxy-l,2-propylene glycol (a.m.w. 13000) In a 500 cubic centimeter flask connected to a fractionating column there were placed 65 grams of polyoxyethylene-polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycol comprising 75 percent ethylene oxide by weight and 25 percent propylene oxide by weight and having an average molecular weight of 13,000, 10.7 grams diethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 2146, 0.7 gram of perfluoroacetic acid catalyst and 300 cubic centimeters of Xylene. The molar ratio of polyoxyethylenepolyoxy 1,2 propylene glycol to diethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane in this reaction mixture amounted to approximately 1. The mixture was heated at the reflux temperature of about 145 C. for 6 hours during which time material distilling below the boiling point of xylene and containing ethanol was removed from the head of the column. Upon removal of the xylene solvent under reduced pressure, there was obtained a thick, watersoluble, polymeric oil.

EXAMPLE 33 Block copolymer from an ethylhydrogensiloxane polymer and a polyoxyethylene-polyoxy-1,2-propylene glycol (a.m.w. 1550) In a 250 cubic centimeter flask equipped with a reflux condenser and a gas bubble trap for detecting gas evolution there were placed 28 grams of an ethylhydrogensiloxane polymer having a viscosity of 928 centistokes at 25 C., 42 grams of a polyoxyethylene glycol monoether containing 50 weight percent ethylene oxide and 50 Weight percent propylene oxide and having an average molecular weight of 1550, 59 grams of toluene and 0.35 gram (0.5 weight percent) of piperidine catalyst. The ethylhydrogensiloxane was made by shaking 74 g. (0.25 mole) of ethylhydrogensiloxane cyclic tetramer and 0.57 g. (0.0035 mole) of hexamethyldisiloxane with 1.0 g. of cone. sulfuric acid for 16 hours at room temperature, washing the resulting polymeric product with dilute sodium bicarbonate solution and removing the low-boiling material present below 150 C. at a pressure of 1 millimeter of mercury absolute. The mixture was heated at a temperature of 120 C. to 123 C. for 10 hours during which time hydrogen gas was evolved. After the evolution of gas had ceased the copolymer was stripped of solvent and other low-boiling materials to a temperature of 100 C. at 1 millimeter of mercury absolute pressure. There was obtained 66 grams of a homogeneous, water-soluble, liquid product having a viscosity of 684 centistokes at 25 C.

Block copolymers from polyoxy-1,3propy1ene glycols and dialkoxy-polydimethylsiloxane Polyoxy-1,3-propylene glycols vary from slightly watersoluble to water-insoluble, viscous liquids which can be produced in the usual manner by reacting 1,3-propylene oxide with water, or by polymerizing propanediol-1,3 or low molecular weight polymers of propanediol-1,3 in the presence of a hydrogen iodide aqueous solution. These glycols are characterized by long chain molecules comprised of recurring oxy-1,3-propylene units and terminated by two hydroxyl groups, one at each end.

Linear block copolymers prepared from polyoxy-1,3- propylene glycols and alkoxy-endblocked polysiloxanes are water-insoluble, viscous oils having lubricating qualities and closely resemble corresponding copolymers prepared from po1yoxy-1,2-propylene glycol and alkoxy-endblocked polysiloxanes. To illustrate the method of preparing these copolymers the following typical example is presented.

EXAMPLE 34 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy-polydimethyl-siloxane (a.m.w. 1036) and a polyoxy1,3-propylene glycol (a.m.w. 760) In a 500 ml. flask connected to a fractionating column were introduced 50 grams (.06 mole) of polyoxy-1,3- propylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 760 (determined cryoscopically in benzene), 36.4 grams (.01 mole) of diethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 1036, 0.18 gram of trifluoroacetic acid catalyst and 150 ml. of toluene as a solvent. The molar ratio of glycol to polysiloxane inthis case was 1.87. The resulting solution was heated at the reflux temperature of about 120 C. for 6 hours during which time low-boiling material, boiling between 78 C. and 80 C., was removed at the head of the column. Solid sodium bicarbonate was added to neutralize the catalyst and the mixture was heated to reflux temperature (about 120 C.), cooled to room temperature and filtered. Upon distilling the toluene solvent under reduced pressure there was obtained 81 grams of a dark brown, water-insoluble oil having a viscosity of 1445 centistokes at 25 C. and an average molecular weight of about 3000 as determined cryoscopically in benzene.

Block copolymer from polyoxy-l,3-butylene glycols and dialkoxy-polydimethylsiloxanes Polyoxy 1,3-buty1ene glycols are characterized by polymeric chain molecules comprised of recurring oxy- 1,3-butylene units and terminated by two hydroxyl groups, one at each end. These glycols are normally water-insoluble viscous liquids, prepared by reacting 1,3- butylene oxide with water, an alcohol such as n-buty1 alcohol; a diol, e.g., butanediol-1,3 or a low molecular weight polyoxy-l,3-butylene glycol.

Linear block copolymers obtained from the reaction of a polyoxy-1,3-butylene glycol and an alkoxy-endblocked polysiloxane are water-insoluble, oils having practical applications as lubricants. The following example typifies the preparation of these copolymers.

EXAMPLE 35 Block copolymer from a dialkoxy-polydimethylsiloxane (a.m.w. 518) and a polyoxy 1,3-butylene glycol (-a.m.w. 520) Into a 250 ml. flask connected to a fractionating column there were placed 50 grams of polyoxy-1,3-'butylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 520, as determined cryoscopically in cyclohexane, 45.6 grams of diethoxy-endblocked polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 518, 0.2 gram of trifluoroacetic acid and ml. of toluene solvent. The resulting mixture was heated at the reflux temperature of about C. for a period of 4 hours, during which time low-boiling material, distilling between 78 C.80 -C., and containing ethanol was removed at the head of the column. Solid sodium bicarbonate was added to neutralize the catalyst, and the mixture was heated at the refux temperature of about 120 C. for a period of 30 minutes, cooled to room temperature and filtered. Upon distilling off the toluene solvent under reduced pressure, there was obtained 82 grams of a homogeneous, water-insoluble oil having a viscosity of 51.7 centistokes and an average molecular Weight of 1082, as determined cryoscopically in cyclohexane.

EXAMPLE 36 Block copolymer from diethoxy-polydimethylsiloxane (a.m.w. 1036) and a polyoxyethylene-polyoxy 1,2- propylene-glycerol triol (a.m.w. 2550) In a two liter flask to which there was connected a fractionating column there were placed 450 grams of toluene and 170 g. (0.067 mole based on hydroxy end group analysis) of a polyoxyalkylene triol containing 50 weight percent of oxyethylene units and 50 weight percent of oxy-l,2-propylene units and having an average molecular weight of 2550. This polyoxyalkylene triol was prepared by the reaction of a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide with glycerol. The mixture was refluxed at atmospheric pressure to remove any absorbed water which was present. Then, 207.2 grams (0.2 mole) of a diethoxy-polydimethylsiloxane having an average molecular weight of 1036 and 0.75 gram of trifluoroacetic acid catalyst were added to the mixture. The resulting mixture was then heated at the reflux temperature (about 110 C.) for five hours during Which time 9.1 grams (0.2 mole) of ethanol was removed from the column head along with some toluene. Solid sodium bicarbonate in an amount of 20 grams was added to neutralize the catalyst and the mixture was heated at the reflux temperature (about 110 C.) for 30 minutes. After this time the mxiture was cooled and filtered. The toluene solvent was removed under reduced pressure leaving 330 grams of a clear, polymeric oil, representing the block copolymer. The block copolymer thus prepared had a viscosity of 34000 centipoises at 25 C.

Many other dialkoxy-endblocked polydihydrocarbylsiloxanes can be used in place of those employed in the foregoing examples to produce our linear block copolymers. For example, dialkoxy-endbloeked polydihydrocarbylsiloxanes which contain any of the following siloxane units or combinations thereof can be employed:

diethyl-siloxane units, Si C H O; methylethylsiloxane units, Si (CH3) (C H O; dimethylsiloxane units, Si (CH O; diphenylsiloxane units, Si (C H O; methylphenylsiloxane units, Si CH C l-I O; ethylphenylsiloxane units, Si(C H (C H O; and the like.

As used herein Me denotes the methyl group.

As used herein the term mono-o1 denotes a monohydroxy alcohol (e.g. ethanol); the term diol denotes a dihydroxy alcohol (e.g. ethylene glycol); and the term triol denotes a trihydroxy alcohol (e.g. glycerol).

What is claimed is:

1. A mixture of block copolymers wherein each copolymer contains at least one siloxane polymer and at least one oxyalkylene polymer in combination, each such siloxane polymer being (1) composed only of trifunctional silicon atoms, each of which silicon atoms is bonded to one hydrocarbon group and bonded to three oxygen atoms that link the silicon atoms to from 1 to 3 other silicon atoms by silicon to oxygen to silicon bonds, and at least one of which silicon atoms is bonded to from 1 to 2 oxyalkylene polymers by a silicon to oxygen to carbon bond in each instance and (2) end-blocked by a member selected from the group consisting of the trihydrocarbonsiloxy groups, alkoxy groups and another of said oxyalkylene polymers; and each such oxyalkylene polymer being composed of at least five oxyalkylene units joined to each other by oxycarbon bonds and being joined at one end to said siloxane polymer and at the other end to a member selected from the group consisting of another of said siloxane polymers by a carbon-oxy-silicon bond, the hydroxyl group, the trihydrocarbonsiloxy groups and alkoxy groups, said mixture of block copolymers being free of any silicon atom linked to two oxygen atoms and two carbon atoms of hydrocarbon groups.

2. A mixture of block copolymers of claim 1 wherein each such oxyalkylene polymer is joined at one end to a hydroxyl group.

3. A composition of matter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon group bonded to each such trifunctional hydrocarbyl silicon atom is from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, phenyl and vinyl.

4. A composition of matter as claimed in claim -1 wherein each such oxyalkylene polymer comprises oxyethylene groups and has the following general formula:

in which z is an integer of at least 5.

5. A composition of matter as claimed in claim 1 wherein each such oxyalkylene polymer comprises oxypropylene groups and has the following general formula:

in which 1 is an integer of at least 5.

6. A mixture of block copolymers as claimed in claim 1 which mixture is an oil.

7. A mixture of block copolymers as claimed in claim 1 that is at least partly water-soluble and wherein at least some of the oxyalkylene units are oxyethylene units and any remaining oxyalkylene units are oxypropylene units or oxybutylene units and wherein the mol-fraction of the oxyethylene units is at least one-fourth the sum of the mol-fractions of the siloxane units and any oxypropylene and oxybutylene units in the block copolymers.

8. A mixture of block copolymers wherein each copolymer contains at least one siloxane polymer and at least one oxyalkylene polymer in combination, each such siloxane polymer being 1) composed only of trifunctional silicon atoms, each of which silicon atoms is bonded to one monovalent hydrocarbon group and bonded to three oxygen atoms that link the silicon atoms to form 1 to 3 other silicon atoms by silicon to oxygen to silicon bonds, and at least one of which silicon atoms is bonded to from 1 to 2 oxyalkylene polymers by a silicon to oxygen to carbon bond in each instance and (2) endblocked by a member selected from the group consisting of the trihydrocarbonsiloxy groups, alkoxy groups and another of said oxyalkylene polymers; and each such oxyalkylene polymer being composed of at least five oxyalkylene units joined to each other by oxycarbon bonds and being joined at one end to said siloxane polymer and at the other end to a member selected from the group consisting of another of said siloxane polymers by a carbon-oxy-silicon bond, the hydroxyl group, the trihydrocarbonsiloxy groups and OR" groups wherein R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, said mixture of block copolymers being free of any silicon atom linked to two oxygen atoms and two carbon atoms of hydrocarbon groups.

9. A mixture of block copolymers as claimed in claim 8 Which mixture is an oil.

10. A mixture of block copolymers as claimed in claim 8 that is at least partly water-soluble and wherein at least some of the oxyalkylene units are oxyethylene units and any remaining oxyalkylene units are oxypropylene units or oxybutylene units and wherein the mol-fraction of the oxyethylene units is at least one-fourth the sum of the mol-fractions of the siloxane units and any oxypropylene and oxybutylene units in the block copolymers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1958 Bailey et al. 260448.8 12/1959 Bailey et al. 260-4482 OTHER REFERENCES Eaborn: Organosilicon Compounds, Academic Press, p. 249, 1960.

l0638.22; l17-l39.5; 25249.6; 260-4482, 448.8, 824 

